Sheet handling machine



.CL 15, 1935. P R WHELAN lSHEET HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. l2, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. R. WHELAN @et l5, 1935.

SHEET HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. l2, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lHIllll H Il Il Illl Il III Il I'll IIIHI Q, l5, 1935. p R. WHELAN 2,0179

SHEET HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. l2, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 15, 1935 Ui'i'ED STATES aclarar FAENT OFFICE 2,017,191 SHEET HANDLING MACHINE Application September 12, 1932, Serial No. 632,716

. 27 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the printing art and has more particular reference to an improved sheet handling machine, for manipulation of printed sheets and the like.

In some processes of the printing art, the printing of a sheet involves the impression of part of the printed mater, as the body of a letter or advertising circular, on a cylinder-press machine, and the printing of another part of the printed matter, as the date, name, address and salutation, on a flat-bed machine, which procedure has heretofore, so far as I am aware, been carried forth in separate steps or stages, most of them hand operations, on the respective machines.

Having the foregoing in mind, my invention has for its prime object the provision of an efficient, reliable and practical mechanism or machine of the character described, for receiving the partly printed sheet from the cylinder machine, inverting or reversing the sheet, feeding the inverted sheet to the flat-bed machine, and removing the finished printed or addressed sheet therefrom.

And with the above and other objects in View, myinvention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets) Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a sheet-handling machine of my invention, taken approximately along the line I i, Figure 3, portions of associated printing machines being indicated in dot-dash lines;

Figure 2 is a side-elevational View of the machine;

Figure 3 isa top plan view of the machine, portions thereof being broken away for disclosing the interior construction;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken approximately along the line 4 4, Figure 1; n

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 5 5, Figure 3;

'Figure 6 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 6 5, Figure 3;

Figure '7 is a sectional view vtaken approximately along the line 1 1, Figure l;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 8 8, Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along the line 9 9, Figure 3; and

Figure lO is a. fragmentary longitudinally secdrawings (three tional view of the sheet-feeding and removing mechanism of the machine, the several parts being shown in position for discharging a printed sheet from the machine.

Referring now more inv detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a 5 preferred embodiment of my invention, l and 2 designate respectively, a pair of cooperating sheet-discharging rollers of a conventional printing machine A, of the type which makes its printing impression on the upper face of the printed l0 sheet, as a cylinder-press or the like.

B designates the sheet-handling machine of my invention, theV main-frame thereof comprising a transversely spaced pair of upstanding side walls 3, li, respectively, preferably connected at their lower longitudinal margins by a transverse bottom wall 5, the frame being supported on respective corner posts or legs 6 for engaging the floor or other suitable support (not shown).`

Mounted for rotation transversely in and be- 20 tween the side-walls 3, 4, for sheet-receiving registration with the ldischarge rollers l, 2, is a beltcarrying roller Vl, over which is trained a series of, or in the present instance four, sheet-conveying belts or endless carriers S. The upper runs 25 of the carriers 8 extend, tangentially from the roller l forwardly, between the side walls, 3, li, for engaging a sheet-turnover drum 9, ofV relatively large diameter, suitably disposed on a shaft if) rotarily mounted in and between the side- 30 walls 3, 4. The carriers 8 pass forwardly and downwardly over the drum 9 and return to-the roller 'l over a tightener-pulley ll, disposed adjacent theY drum 9, the opposite end-axles of the pulley Il being presented through respective 35 slots l2 in the side-walls 3, 4, where suitable springs i3, attached to the walls 3, engage said pulley-axles for yieldingly supporting the pulley l l for tensing the carriers 8 over the roller 1 and drum 9, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2. 40 Spanning between the side-walls 3, 4, beneath, and for in part supporting, the series of belts l is a pair of tie-rods I4, the rods i4 also slidably supporting a pair of transversely spaced sheetguides l5, preferably of angle-section, and ex- 45 tending longitudinally for projecting their horizontal legs supportingly under the respective outside ones of the series of carriers 8, the latter being marginally bounded by the upstanding legs of the guides l5 for providing a sheet-guiding 50 channel therebetween. The upper margins of the guides l5' are provided with ears 16 forthreaded engagement by thumb screws l1 adjustably mounted in respective suitably slotted bars i8 disposed transversely between and on the upper 5.5i

margin of lthe frame side-walls 3, 4, whereby the spacing between the guides I5 may be varied suitably to the width of the sheet being handled, as will be understood from Figure 4.

5 Surrounding the forward half circumference of the turnover-drum 9 is a series of, or in the present instance, three groups of sheet feeding rollers I9, each group thereof comprising four rollers mounted on a suitablyY squared, rotary shaft 29 disposed substantially parallel Withgthe faceof the drum 9. -The rollers I9 are preferably made of rubber or other similar composition, and are provided with squared axial apertures for fitting snugly on the shaft 20, whereby,

a particular group of the rollers I9 may be ad. justed on the shaft 20 inlongitudinally spaced Y relation with respect to the drum 9 for peripherally engaging the respective carriers 8 trained thereover, the rollers I9 being Vdriven .from and.

atthe same peripheral speed as the drum 9 by means of a gear 2I, mounted on one end of Vthe drum-shaft YI0 projecting from the frame-wall 3, for meshing with pinions V22 mounted on the respective shafts 28, as -best seen in Figures 3 and 6. Y

The opposite ends of each shaft 2B projectguidably through slots 23 provided in the respective frame-walls 3, 4, and are each Yyieldingly engaged by one vend of a resilient'element or spring 24, whose'other end is mounted cna lug 25 projecting from the frame-wall, 3 or 4-as the case Vmay be, a suitable screw'or the like as 2B, being .adjustably mounted in a lug 2'I projecting from the adjacent frame-wall'for engaging the spring 24 intermediately its-end, for tensionally Vbiasing the the drum 9, as best series of'rollers I9 is vertically'disposed a sheetguide 28, having its upper end suitably flared upwardly from the y:upper-face of `rthe drum V9. In the present instance there are three Yguides 28, each being -arcuately curved, or bent in suitably spaced relation with the forward half-periphery of the drum 9 and terminating substantially at the lower one vof the shafts 29. Each guide 28 is provided with-upper and lower -ears or lugs 29 slidably engaging suitableV transverse rods 39 mounted between Vthe frame-walls 3, 4, -the lugs 29 having suitable set-screws or the like, as at 3 I, for adjustably varying the spacing of the guides n 28Y longitudinally -of the drum 9, as best seen in Figures i and 3. Y

Disposed below and preferably -in vertical registration with the drum 9 is a second drum 32, carried by a shaft 33 rotarily'supported in and between Vthe frame-walls 3,4'. Trained over the rear half-circumference of lthe drum 32, for extending therefrom forwardly in the machine, is a series of, or in the :present instance four, sheetconveyorjbelts or endless carriers 34, presently to be moreparticularly described, the drum 32 being disposed suitably in relation with the lowermostgroup 'of rollers I9 for engaging the upper run of the belts 34 therebetween, as -best seen in Figure l. Y Y In order, therefore, thatV the drum 32 and rollers I9 may have the same peripheral velocity, anv

end of theshaft 33 is projected through the frame wall 4 and carries a gear 35'which meshes with afsuitably mounted idler-gear 36, the latter in 'Y Y A horizontal intermediate wall'or sheetsupport y plate 38 is mounted between the frame side-walls 3, 4, suitably in position for receiving a sheet from between the upper drum 9 and the lower group of rolls I9, and for in turn supporting, for delivery of the sheet to and between said group of rolls I9 and the lower drum 32, the top of the drum 32 preferably, however, projecting a suitably small distance above the plane of the plate `38, for apurpose presently appearing. The front margin of the plate 38 terminates at the drum 32, and it is rearwardly extended in the machine a suitable distance beyond the side-walls 3, 4, the latter having projecting bracket portions 32, is a shaft 46, suitably squared as shown, for

adjustably supporting a pair of longitudinally spaced rollers 4I, the tops of the rollers 4I pro- L jecting upwardly through suitable -transverse slots 42 provided in the 'plate 38. An end of the shaft 49 is projected throughv the side-wall 4 and carries a gear 43 vof `suitable vdimensions for meshing with the idler-gear 36, for driving the rollers '4i at a peripheral speed corresponding tothe linear speed of the belts 34.

44 designates a pair of opposing sheet-guides disposed longitudinally of the plate 38 for shiftable movement transversely thereover, the guides U,

44 vbeing preferably of angle section with the horizontal legs thereof provided with approximately rectangular apertures 45 for receiving the upper portions of the rollers -4 I. The upstanding legs of the guides -44 'are Aprovided with longitudinally spaced lpairs Vof outwardly projecting plungers 46, 41, respectively, slidably mounted in and through suitable hubs orbosses-48attached to the outerY face of the wall 3 or 4, as the case may be, suitable retaining members or thumbscrews 49 being-threaded into the bosses 48 for engaging the =plungers, 46 -or 41, for retaining the guides 44 in adjustably spaced sheet-guiding relation on the plate 38.

Disposed across the rear portion of the plate 38 apertured hub-ends of a pair of swingable larms 54, forwardly .projecting over the plate 38. Sldably mounted through the front end of vthe arm 54 is an inwardly' extending tubular shaft 5S having telescoping engagement with the opposing end of a shaft 57 in turn -slidably mounted through the free end of the arm 55, suitable'set` screws'or like fastening elements 58 being employed for retaining the shafts 56-5'I, adjustably in telescoped relation-as best seen in Figure 4.

On the outer end of each shaft 56, 5l, is mount- Yed a roller v'59, the arms 54, 5E, being adjusted on the shaft 53 for disposing the rollers 59 in vertical registration with therespective rollers 4I. Normally, the shaft 53 is oscillated for elevating the arm-carried-rollers 59 a suitable distance above the plate 38, as shown in solid'lines in Figure l, forkr free passage therebetween of a sheet discharged froin engagement between the drum 9 and the lowerrollers I9 for reposing on the plate 38 over the rollers 4 I. The` arms 54, 55, however,

are of suitable length for, on contrary oscillation of the shaft 53, dropping the rollers 59 on the sheet for engaging the same between the rollers 59 and 4l, as shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 1, for shifting the sheet forwardly for feeding the sheet to and between the lower drum 32 and the lower roller I9. Y

For effecting such oscillation of the shaft 53, the same is extended through the frame-side 3 and provided with a crank 68, the free end thereof carrying a roller 6| cooperating peripherally with a cam 62 mounted preferably, though not necessarily, on the corresponding frame-projecting end of the main or drive-shaft S3 of the machine, the latter being suitably mounted for rotation in and between the frame-sides 3, 4, adjacent the bottom wall thereof, the cam 82 comprising an arm-dropped dwell a, an armlifting or rising portion b, an arm-lifted dwell c, and an arm-dropping or falling portion d, the several proportions of the cam 62 and the revolution thereof by and with the shaft 63 being in timed relation with the cyclic period of operation of the particular printing machine A, as will presently more particularly appear.

The sheet thus fed to the drum 32 is in turn engaged by the belts 34 and moved forwardly between a pair of suitably spaced longitudinal guides S4, the guides 64 being preferably of angle section, and having their horizontal legs extending under the respective outside ones of the series of belts 34, the latter being `marginally bounded by the upstanding leg's of the guides '54 for providing a sheet-guiding channel therebetween. The upper margins of the guides G4 are provided with ears or lugs B for threaded engagement by thumb-screws 66 adjustably mounted in a suitably slotted bar 5l disposed transversely between and onI the upper margin of the frame side-walls u, 3, 3, the latter being suitably reduced in height at this point, as shown in Figures l, 3 and 8.

B designates an extensible front end portion of the machine B, the frame of the extension B comprising a pair of upstanding side-walls 68, 69, respectively, for overlapping outside engagement with the frame side-walls 3, 4, alsorespectively, of the main machine-portion B, the rear lower margins of the side-walls 68, 69, being joined by a bottom-wall 18, for overlapping outside engagement with the main bottom wall 5, as best seen in Figures l and 8.

The side-walls 3, 4, are provided with upper and lower series of horizontally spaced apertures 'll and the bottom wall 5 is provided adjacent its side margins, likewise with respective series of longitudinally aligned apertures ll. Mounted through the extension frame walls 68, 69, 18, inV

registration with the respective series of apertures ll, are suitable fastening elements or thumb-screws l2, the apertures '1| being preferably suitably tapped for threaded cooperation with the thumb-screws 12, whereby the extension B may be telescopically shifted forwardly from or rearwardly toward the main machine B and then rigidly attached thereto, by suitably manipulating 'ie thumb screws l2 into a particular transversely aligned group of the apertures 1l, as will be understood from Figures 2 and 8.

Disposed a suitable distance forwardly in the extension B is a transverse roller 13, mounted on a shaft 14 journaled in and between the sidewalls 88, E9, the series of belts 35 being extended forwardly to and downwardly over the roller 13.' From the roller 'i3 the belts 34 extend rearwardly to and pass downwardly over a pulley or roller 15, mounted on a shaft 18, journaled in and between the side-walls E8, 59,'the intervening sidewalls 3, 4, of the machine-section B being provided each with a longitudinal slot il for receiving the shaft 1G. From the pulley 'l5 the belts 34 extend forwardly, more or less, to a second pulley 18 mounted on a shaft 18 journaled, however, in and between the side-walls 3, 4, the opposite end of the shaft 19 working in longitudinal Slots 8f3 provided in the side walls 68, 69, of the extension B. From the pulley 'i8 the belts 34 rearwardly extend to the drum 32 for return movement upwardly thereover, as best seen in Figure 1.

It will be seen that, on telescoping ino-vement of the section B relatively tothe section B, the pulleys l5, 18, become correspondingly overlapped or spaced one relatively to the other for stretching the common run of the belt-series therebetween, thus automatically compensating for variations in the length of the belt 34 resulting from changes in the distance between the drum 32 and roller l3. Mostconveniently during telescoping manipulation of the frame sections B, B', the shaft 16, 19, working in the slots 11, 8D, respectively, serve for more or less effectively supporting the section B until the same is again attached to the section B.

Si designates a pair of extension sheet-guides preferably of angle-section and adapted for outside telescoping or overlapping engagement with the sheet-guides 64, for marginally bounding the portion of the series of belts 34 which extend into the section B', the guides 8l terminating forwardly at the roller 13. Similarly to the guides 64, the guides 8l are equipped with ears 85' engaged by thumb-screws 65 mounted in a suitably slotted bar 6'." disposed transversely between and on the upper margin of the extension side-walls 68, SS, respectively, as best seen in Figures 1 and 3.

A tie-rod 82 is mounted between the side-walls 3, 4, for supporting the rear portions of the guides 84, another rod 83 is similarly mounted between the front ends of the walls 3, il, for supporting the belts 34 and the overlapping portions of the guides 64, 8l, and a third rod B4 is disposed between the walls 8S, 6s, adjacent the roller 13 for supporting the front ends of the guides 8 l, as best seen, again, in Figures l and 3. Y

A sheet conveyed on and by the belts 34 is discharged over the roller 13 on or into a vertically shiftable so-'called pan or valve 85 disposed transversely between the side-walls 68, 69, immediately in front of the roller i3. The opposite upstanding end walls of the pan 85 are extended rearwardly in the form of suitably curved arms 86 each closely adjacent a respective frame-wall S8, 9, the rear end of each arm 88 being mounted on an oscillatory shaft 8l journaled in and between the walls 68, B9, a suitable distance rearwardly of the roller 13, as best seen in Figures 1 and 3.

The pan B5 is equipped with a pair of opposing sheet-guides 88, preferably of angle-section, the horizontal legs thereof resting on the pan 85 and being turned inwardly thereof one toward the other. The upstanding legs of the guides 88 are provided with ears 89 threadedly receiving sui"- able thumb-screws @il working in a suitably slotted bar 9! supported by and between thel endwall arms SS of the pan, whereby the guides 88 may be adjustably positioned in the pan 85 for providing a sheet-guiding channel therebetween in registration with that between the guides BI as best seen in Figure 3.

Mounted 'between the side-walls 68, 69, is an approximately vertical stop-plateV 92 arcuately curved in its vertical plane complementary to the path of movement of the front or free margin of the pan 95, the latter' being adapted, as presently appearing, for swinging upwardly in close adjacence to lthe concave face of the stop-plate 92 for at such time effectively blocking the movement of a sheet over the `pan 85, as best seen in Figure 10.

Normally, however, the pan 85 is disposed in downwardly swung position with its lip or front margin vertically spaced from the lower marginV of the plate 92 providing a throat therebetween through which a sheet may freely pass, a pair of rollers 03,-adjustably mounted on a shaft 94 journaled suitably between the pan-arms 86, being brought into peripheral engagement with theside margins of the sheet for depressing or bending the saine asit passes over the roller 13 for directing the sheet onto the pan .and toward the throat between the pan 85 and the plate 92 as will be understood from Figure l.

When in its down position thelip or front-margin of the pan 85 rests upon an upwardly convex chute 95k which merges horizontally into a feedplate 9G, the plate 96 extending forwardly and downwardly for flatwise reposing its front end on the feed'table 91 of a conventional form of flat-bed printing machine C, the latter comprising, in the present instance, an addressing machine which makes its printing impression on the y underface of the sheet, as will presently appear, the feed-plate 96 being supported by and between suitably formed bracket-arm extensions 98, 99,

of the side-walls '60, 09, respectively, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2. Y

An oscillatory inverted approximately U- shaped frame comprising an elongated transverse bar extending over the feed-plate 96V above the bracket-arms 98, 99, is provided at its opposite ends with depending members |0|, |0|, respectively, each suitably provided with bearings for rotarily supporting the respective opposite ends of a pair of shafts |02, |03, disposed transversely of the feed-plate 96 and spaced longitudinally thereof. In a similar manner, 'a second oscillatory approximately U-shaped frame |04, comprising an elongated transverse bar extending beneath the feed-plate 95 below the bracketarms 99, 99, is provided at its opposite ends with upstanding members |05, respectively, each suitably provided with bearings for rotarily supporting the respective oppositeends of a pair of shafts |05, |01, in vertical registration with the shafts |02, |03, respectively,as best seen in Figures 2 and '1. Slidably mounted on the shafts |02, |03, are pairs of rollers |09, |09, respectively, of rsuitable rubber or other like composition. Likewisegslidably mounted on the shafts' |06, |01, are pairs of rollers H0, respectively, also of suitable' rubber composition, the rollers ||0 on the shaft |06 being disposedl in vertical registration with the rollers |08 on the shaft |02, andthe rollers on the shaft |01V being disposed in the vertical registration with the rollers |09 in the shaft |03.

The feed plate 96 is provided with pairs lof suitably elongated transverse slots |2,' |3, the rollers |0 being adopted, on rearward oscillation of the frame 04, for presentation, through the slots 2, suitably above the plate 96 'for peripheral engagement with the rollers |06 Vwhich are shifted orlowered, as will. presently appear, to-

Vward the plate 96 on corresponding rearward oscillation of the frame |00, as shown in Figure 1. Similarly, on the reverse or forward oscillation of the frames |00, |04, the rollers emerge upwardly through the slots ||3 for engaging the rollers |09, as shown in Figure 10.

'Ihe frame |00 is provided with opposite end or terminal depending axle-hubs ||4, ||5, respectively, and in similar manner the frame |04 is provided with opposite end upstanding axle-hubs H6, ||1, respectively. The axles of the hubs ||4, H6, are journaled suitably in a bearing-bracket ||8 supported from the adjacent frame-wall 68, and the axles of the hubs H5, ||1, are journaled rsuitably in a bearing bracket 9 supported from Va flexible member or belt |23 which is trained over another pulley |24 mounted on the suitably projected end of the shaft 14, whereby the peripheral speed of the rollers |08, |09, is made substantially equal to the linear speed of the belts 34, as best seen in Figures l and 5, the rollers |08 being driven in a direction for moving a sheet forwardly over the feed-plate 95 while the rollers 09 are drivenin a direction for moving the sheet rearwardly from the plate 96, as will presently more particularly appear.

The shafts |06, |01, of the frame |04 are likewise extended beyond the axle-hub ||6 and carry similar gears |25 meshing at a one-to-one ratio, the shafts |06, |01, however, being rotated by means of the alternate engagement of the rollers ||0, with the rollers |03, |09, as the case may be, the gears |25 serving to drive the shafts |06, |01, Yone from the other for maintaining substantially continuous revolution thereof during the Voperation of the machine, as best seen in Figures 5 `and '1. Y

Mounted suitably on the'aXle-hub ||5 of the frame |00 is a depending arm |26, and likewise mounted on the axle-hub ||1 of the frame |04 is an upstanding arm |21 in vertical registration with the arm |26. The bracket 9 includes a longitudinal cylindrical guide |28 in and through which is adjustably threaded a sleeve |29, a suitabley jam-nut |30 being mounted on the sleeve for engagement with the rear end of the guide |28 for locking the sleeve |29 in the guide |28 with the forward end of the sleeve |29 projecting a suitable distance forwardlyof the guide |28, as will presently appear. Y l

A plunger |3| is reciprocably mounted in and through the sleeve I2 9 and carries at its forward end Ya cap-screw |32, adjustably threaded into the plunger |3|, for cooperative engagement with the free ends of the arms |26, |21. The rear end of the plunger |3| is provided with a roller |33 engageable with a cam |34 mounted ona rotatory shaft |735 supported by and between the adjacent wall 69 and a bracket |36 projecting suitably therefrom. Thecam |33 includes a dwell e which when engaging the'roller |33 shifts the plunger |3| forwardly in the sleeve |29 for engaging the cap-screw |32 withV the arms |26, 21, for4 effecting rearward oscillation of the frames '|00, |04,

` such movement of the frames |00, |04, being the cap-screw |32 to the roller |33, as best seen in Figure 2.

The cam |34 is also provided with a drop-portion or dwell f, which when opposite the roller |33 permits a suitable tensional member or spring |31, resiliently connecting the forward ends of the bearing members |0|, |05', to act for oscillating the frames |00, |04, to forwardly swung positions, the plungers |3| being meanwhile rearwardly shifted in the sleeve |29 until the capscrew |32 impinges the end of the sleeve |29, the forward oscillation of the frames |60, |04, being regulated by varying the projection of the sleeve |29 from the guide |28.

A bevel-gear |38, mounted on the shaft |35, meshes with a bevel-pinion |39 mounted on one or the adjacent end of a cam-actuating shaft |40, journaled in a bearing |4| carried by the bracket |36, as best seen in Figure 3.

The shaft |40 extends longitudinally rearwardly of the machine adjacent the side-wall 4, and has its other or rear end journaled in and endwise slidably through a pair of spaced bearings |42 provided on the upper end of a suitably forked frame |43 upstanding from, and suitably oscillatorily supported on, the main drive-shaft 63, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3.

The rear portion of the shaft |40 is suitably squared for engaging the correspondingly apertured hub of a helical gear |44 slidably mounted on the shaft between the bearings |42. The gear |44 meshes with a complementary helical gear |45 mounted on for rotation with the drive-shaft 63, whereby the cam |34 is driven in timed rela- 1 tion with the cyclic period of operation of the printing machines A and C, as will presently appear. l

Also mounted on, for actuation by, the shaft |36, is a cam |46, having three dwells, g, h, lc, of different elevations, as may be said, the cam |46 being peripherally engaged by a roller |41 supported on the free end of an arm |48 mounted on the adjacent projecting end of the pan-shaft 81. The pan is disposed in lowered position on the chute when the roller |41 is engaged with the dwell g, the cam |46 being synchronized with the cam |34 so that the pan 85 is lowered for passage of a sheet thereover as the cam-portion e of the cam |34 engages the plunger roller |33 for rearwardly swinging the frames |00, |04, thereby engaging the rollers |08,'| I0, with the sheet for feeding the same to and over the feed-plate 96, as will be understood from Figure l.

The machine B is set in such relative position with respect to the addressing machine C that the sheet so fed by the rollers |08, H0, over the plate 96 will with its forward margin impinge the usual stop |49 of the machine C just as the rear margin of the sheet escapes from the rollers |08, H0, the latter therefore acting as a back-stop, as may be said, for holding the sheet firmly against the stop |49 in longitudinal Vregistration with the printing plate |50 of the machine C, as best seen in Figure 1.

A guide |5|, preferably of angle section, is longitudinally mounted on the plate 96 for transversely adjustable movement thereover toward and from the bracket-wall 99, the guide |5| being provided with a pair of outwardly projecting plungers |52 slidably mounted in bosses |53 carried by the wall 99 and having suitable retaining elements or thumbscrews |54 for retaining the guide |5| in adjusted position. The plate 96 is provided in its forward margin with a cut-out or notch |55 for .exposing the printing plate |50 therethrough, the guide |5| more or less overhanging the notchV |55 for guiding a sheet into proper transverse registration of the sheet with the printing plate |50.

Oppositely to the guide |5| is a pair of socalled joggers |56, each comprising a felt pad or brush mounted in a head |51 supported on one end of a plunger |58 slidably mounted in and through the adjacent bracket-wall 98, suitable tensional members or springs |59 being mounted on the head |51 in engagement with the .jogger |56 for pressing the inner margin thereof firmly on the plate 96 in order that the jogger |56 may be effective for engaging the adjacent margin of a sheet residing on the plate 96 as will shortly appear.

Adjustably mounted on the outer end of the plunger |58 is a collar |60, a suitable tensional member or spring |6| being mounted on the plunger |58 between the collar |60 and the adjacent bracket 98 for biasing the plunger |58 outwardly thereof for retracting the Jogger |56 from the path of movement of a sheet traversing the plate 96. The plungers |58 are embraced by respective pairs of upper and lower forks |62 provided at the opposite ends of a cam-bar |63, each pair of the forks |62 also slidably engaging respective guide-brackets |64 projecting from the adjacent wall 98 for supporting the cam-bar |63 for movement longitudinally of the machine, as best seen in Figure 5.

The forks |62 normally slidingly engage the outer face of the respective collars |60, the latter being adjusted on the plungers |58 for thus limiting the spring-biased outward movement of the joggers |56. The respective forks |62 of each pair thereof are provided with vertically registering inwardly presented cam-lugs |65 adapted, on rearward shifting movement of the cam-bar |63, for engaging the adjacent collar |60.

The pan-shaft 81 is projected suitably through the frame-wall 68 and carries a crank |66 having operative connection, as by a link |61, with the cam bar |63. When the dwell h of the cam |46 engages the roller |41, the shaft 81 is oscillated for rearwardly swinging the crank |66 and correspondingly shifting the cam-bar |63, as shown in dot-dash lines in Figure l0, for thus, in turn, shifting the particular plunger |58 inwardly, the joggers |56 then engaging the adjacent margin of a sheetreposing on the plate 96 for shifting the sheet transversely of the plate until the opposite margin of the sheet is substantially engaged with the guide |5|, thereby effecting transverse registration of the sheet with the printing plate |50, as will best be understood from Figure 3. This sheet registering action occurs just before the impression-head |69, of the machine C drops on the sheet for printing-engagement thereof with the printing plate |59. On completion of the impression-movement of the head |68, the dwell lc engages the roller |41 for oscillating the shaft 81 suihciently for releasing or retracting the joggersv 56 from the now-addressed or printed sheet, the pan 85 meanwhile taking a position with its front margin or lip sufficiently elevated above the chute 95 for providing an exit throat therebetween, the pan 65, however, being at such time opposed to the stop 92 for preventing discharge of a sheet from the pan onto the plate 96, as best seen in Figure 10. y

The drop portion f of the cam |34 having been meanwhile presented to the roller |33 and the frames |00, |04, forwardly oscillated, the sheet reposingon the plate 96 is "engaged between the rollers IIB, II I, and rearwardly shifted into the throat between the pan 85 and the chute 95. The pan 85 is provided with a deector |69 which, when the pan S is elevated as described, is suitably spaced from a downwardly rearwardly inclined discharge apron or extension of the chute 95, as best seen in Figures 2 and 10.

Disposed in the path of a sheet moving between the deector |69 and apron |`||I are suitably registering pairs of upper and lower rollers I'II, |12, respectively, mounted on correspondingly preferably squared shafts |73, |14, journaled in and between the frame side-walls 98, 99, the lower rollers working through slots as |75, provided in the apron HQ, for projecting a suitable distance thereabove, the rollers III, |72, being preferably of rubber composition or the like, and adjustable on theA shafts |13, |74, for peripherally contacting the opposite side margins of a sheet passing therebetween.

The shafts |73, I'ill, are suitably projected through the frame-walls G8 and carry similar gears |76 meshing at a one-to-one ratio, the shaft |74 also carrying a gear I'l meshing with a gear |278 mounted on the shaft T14 for driving the rollers at the same peripheral speed as that of the sheetdischarging rollers its, as best seen in Figure 5.

From the apron liti the sheet may most conveniently be discharged into a box or tray |19 supported for such purpose by any convenient means (not shown) Suitable so-called strippers |80, supported from a rod 8| disposed between the frame-walls 58, @9, are provided for extending into the box |19 for neatly stacking the sheets therein as best seen in Figure 1.

As has beenv said, the shaft 63 is the main driving member of the machine B, and carries a gear |82 meshing at a suitable step-up ratio with a gear |83 mounted on the shaft33 for motivating the several rollers, and belts of the machine B at a suitable speed for the proper performance of its intended functions in timed relationship with the machine A. For such purpose, preferably, motive power for the machine B is supplied from the machine A, the shaft 63 carrying, for example, a sprocket |84 for operative connection with the machine A as by a chain or the like, not shown. In a similar manner, the shaft 63 carries another sprocket |85 for operative connection with the machine C, also as by a chain (not shown) for driving the latter in suitable synchronism with the machines A and B.

In the use and operation of my improved sheet handling machine, a printed sheet is discharged from the machine A, as has been said, with the printed side of 'the sheet uppermost. The sheet is transported by the carriers 8 to and around the drum 9 and deposited on the plate 38 with the printed side of the sheet inverted or on the bottom side thereof. Ihe rollers 59 are then dropped on the sheet for engaging the same with the rollers. 4|, which feed the sheet to the belts 34, the latter in turn transporting the sheetv to and through the pan S5 onto the plate QS, the rollers |98, I I0, feeding the sheet over the plate S5 and retaining the sheet thereon longitudinal in registration with the machine C as described. The sheet is then jogged by the members |5'a` for eifecting transverse registration of the sheet with the machine C, whereupon the head |68 thereof effects the printing of the address, or the like, on the sheet. This operation being completed, the sheet is removed from the plate 96 by means of the rollers |09, I, and drawn over the apronY I'Ill bythe rollers l? i,

charged from the machine A, is turned over, and 5 deposited on the plate Sil. As the rst sheet is being removed from the plate 9S, the second sheet `is fed to the belts 35 and arrives at the pan 85 shortly after the latter has been lowered into the chute g5, the first sheet having 10,

meanwhile been discharged from the machine. Again, while the second sheet is on the belts a third sheet is discharged from the machine A, onto the carrier 8, there being thus three sheets in the machine B at such particular l5 moment, and so the cycle is repeated as long as the machine is in motion.

As will be understood, the machine B is set up between the machines A and C for receiving a sheet from the former and presenting a sheet to and in proper registration with the latter. It may sometimes occur that the type on the cylinder of the machine A, is not in linear alignment with the type on the bed of the machine C, requiring a lateral shifting of the sheet in its passage through the machine B for effecting proper marginal registration of the sheet with the type set-up of the machine C. For such purpose, the guides 64 and 8| which cooperate with the belts B for guiding the sheet thereover, may be adjusted in suitably oblique positions for laterally shifting the sheet during its movement on and with the belts Sii, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

As has been said, the sheet is positioned in longitudinal registration with the machine C by the cooperation of the rollers H18, IIO, with the stop |49. However, the sheets to be handled have diierent lengths, whereas, generally speaking, the stop |49 is shifted for different lengths of sheets merely sufficiently for accommodating the varying distance of the address from the top of the sheet. For hence accommodating the longer sheets between the rollers |08, IIB, and the stop |49, the extension B is telescoped. into the machine B, the belts 34 being maintained 45 tight by cooperation of the pulleys I5, 18, the shaft I 4U sliding through the bearings |42 and gear I 44, the guides 8| sliding upon the guides 64, and, the stop 5G being suitably adjusted on the plate 38, as described, the adjustment is effected without disturbing the relationship of the machines A, B, C,

Also, by suitably adjusting the several belts, rollers, guides and joggers of the machine B,

various widths of sheets may be readily handled therein, my sheet handling machine being highly eicient in the performance of its intended functions and of practical utility in the printing art.

It Will be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts of my improved sheet handling machine may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principles of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

l. Sheet-handling mechanism comprising sheet-inverting means, sheet-positioning means, andintermittently actuable means for feeding an inverted sheet to the sheet-positioning means.

2. Sheet-handling mechanism comprising sheet-inverting means, a support for receiving an inverted sheet, sheet-positioning means, and intermittently4 actuable means for feeding an in- 75 combination, a rotary drum, endless carrier elements engaging said drum, and series of rollers circumferentially disposed about the drum in peripheral cooperation with said elements for engaging a sheet therebetween.

6. Sheet handling mechanism, comprising, in combination, a rotary drum, a transversely spaced series of endless carriers longitudinally movable over the drum, and guide members marginally bounding the series of carriers for guiding a sheet to the drum.

7. Sheet handling mechanism comprising, in combination, a rotary drum, endles carrier elements engaging said drum, series of rollers circumferentially disposed about the drum in pe- I ripheral cooperation with said elements for engaging a sheet therebetween, and guide members marginally bounding the series of carriers for guiding a sheet to the drum.

8. Sheet handling mechanism comprising, in combination, sheet-carrier means, sheet supporting means, and sheet-guiding means cooperable with the carrier means for deposit of the sheet in inverted position on the supporting means.

9. Sheet handling mechanism comprising, in combination, sheet carrier means, sheet supporting means, sheet-guiding means cooperating with the carrier means for deposit of the sheet in inverted position on the supporting means, and means for discharging the deposited sheet from the supporting means.

10. Sheet handling mechanism comprising, in combination, superposed rotary drums, a support disposed between said drums, means for guiding a sheet over one of said drums for deposit of the sheet in inverted position on the support, and means for feeding the inverted sheet to the other of said drums for removal of the sheet from the support.

11. Sheet handling mechanism comprising, in combination, superposed rotary drums, rollers engaged therebetween, means for guiding a sheet over the upper drum for inversion of the sheet and discharge thereof between said upper drum and the rollers, means for feeding the inverted sheet to and between the lower drum and the rollers, a feed-plate, and conveyor means engaging the lower drum for deposit of the inverted sheet on the feed plate. Y

12. Sheet handling mechanism comprising, in combination, superposed rotary drums, rollers engaged therebetween, means for guiding a sheet over the upper drum for inversion of the sheet and discharge thereof between said upper drum and the rollers, means for feeding the inverted sheet to and between the lower drum and the rollers, a feed plate, a pulley adjacent thereto, conveyor means engaging the lower drum and the pulley for deposit of the inverted sheet on the feed plate, and means for varying the distance between the pulley and the lower drum.

13. Sheet-handling mechanism comprising, in combination, sheet conveyor means, a feed-plate, a stop, and a shiftable sheet-support actuable for alternatively directing a sheet from the conveyormeans against the stop or onto the feed-plate.

14. Sheet-handling mechanism comprising, in combination, sheet-conveyor means, a feed-plate, a stop, a shiftable sheet-support actuable for alternatively directing a sheet from the conveyormeans against the stop or onto the feed-plate, shiftable sheet-feeding members cooperable for engaging a sheet on the feed-plate, and means for synchronously actuating the sheet-support and the sheet-feeding members for moving a sheet onto and over the feed-plate.

15. Sheet-handling mechanism comprising, in combination, a feed-plate, a stop spaced from the feed-plate providing a throat therebetween, a chute leading from said throat, a Yshiftable sheet-support actuable for alternatively directing a sheet through the throat onto the feed-plate and for directing a sheet from the feed-plate through the throat into the chute, and means for feeding a sheet to and from the feed plate.

16. Sheet-handling mechanism comprising, in combination, a feed-plate, a stop spaced from the feed-plate providing a throat therebetween, a chute leading from said throat, a shiftable pan actuable for alternatively directing a sheet through the throat onto the feed-plate and for 9 directing a sheet from the feed-plate through the throat into the chute, and means for feeding a sheet to and from the feed-plate, said means including cooperating pairs of alternately shiftable sheet-feeding members, one pair of said e 18. Sheet-handling mechanism comprising, in r combination, sheet inverting means, a feed plate, means for feeding a sheet from the inverting means to the feed-plate, and means operable in sequence with the inverting means for moving the inverted sheet onto and off of the feed-plate.

19. Automatic sheet-handling mechanism for feeding a printed'sheet from one printing machine to another printing machine, comprising means for receiving a printed sheet from the rst machine, means for turning the sheet for inverting its printed face, means for feeding the inverted sheet to printing position of the second printing machine, means for removing the sheet therefrom, and means for actuating said mechanism in cyclic synchronism with said printing machines.

20. Automatic sheet handling mechanism for feeding a printed sheet from one printing machine to another printing machine, comp-rising means for receiving a printed sheet from the first printing machine, means for turning the sheet for inverting the printed face, means for feeding the inverted sheet to printing position of the second machine, and means for intermittentiy actuating the. feeding means in cyclic synchronism with said printing machines.

21. Sheet-handling mechanism comprising, in combination, rst and second sheet-carriers, a sheet support, sheet guiding means co-operable with the iirst carrier for deposit of a sheet in inverted position on the support, and means'for feeding the deposited sheet from the support to the second carrier.

22. Sheet-handling mechanism comprising, in

combination, a first sheet-conveyor, a first sheet support, sheet guiding means co-operable with the first carrier for deposit of a sheet in inverted position on the rst support, a second sheet-conveyor, means for feeding the deposited sheet from the first support to the second conveyor, a feedplate, a stop; a second sheet support shiftable for alternatively directing a sheet from the second conveyor against the stop or onto the feedplate, and means for synchronously actuating the feeding means and shifting the second support for delivery of a sheet from the first support to the feed-plate.

23. Sheet handlingmechanism comprising, in combination, first and second printing machines, conveyor means including spaced drums and an endless carrier engaged therebetween for feeding a sheet from the first printing machine to the second printing machine, and means for varying the distance between said drums.

24. Sheet handling mechanism comprising, in combination, rst and second printing machines, conveyor means including spaced drums and an endless carrier engaged therebetween for feeding a sheet from the first printing machine to the second printing machine, and means for varying the distance between said drums, said last mentioned means including a pair of telescopic framemembers each for supporting a respective drum,

anclpulleys on the respective frame member for overlapping engagement of one run of the endless carrier between the drums.

25. Sheet handling mechanism comprising, in combination, a feed-plate, series of roller-members arranged in respective co-operably approachable pairs for alternately engaging a sheet peripherally therebetween, a pair of opposingly rockable frames each supporting respective ones of the pairs of roller-members, means for revolving the respective pairs of roller-members in opposite directions, and means for alternately rocking the frames in opposite directions for engaging the respective roller-pairs .successively with the sheet for respectively moving the sheet onto and off of the feed-plate.

26. Sheet handling mechanism comprising, in combination, a feed-plate, roller-members arranged in co-operably approachable pairs for alternately engaging a sheet peripherally therebetween,l and means for successfully engaging said roller-pairs with the sheet at predetermined intervals for respectively moving the sheet onto and off of the feed-plate.

27. Sheet handling mechanism comprising, in combination, a feed-plate, roller members disposed in the plane of the feed-plate and arranged in rst and second co-operably approachable pairs for alternately engagingV a sheet peripherally therebetween, a stop for engagement by the sheet on release thereof'by the first pair of rollermembers for positioning the sheet for engagement thereof by thersecond pair of roller-members, and means for successively engaging said roller-pairs with the sheet at predetermined intervals for respectively moving the sheet onto and off of the feed-plate.

PAUL R. WHELAN. 

